PRODUCTION OF KAKI PERSIMMON FRUITS (DIOSPYROS KAKI L.) IN THE MAIN COUNTRIES OF ITS CULTIVATION

The paper presents data on kaki persimmon production and the history of its introduction in the main countries where it is cultivated. China is the birthplace of this crop, is the main region engaged in the cultivation of persimmons on a large scale. According to the FAO for 2005–2015, it produces 46.8 % of the world’s total. The second place is occupied by Korea (10.7 %), followed by Japan (8.7 %) and Brazil (4.5 %). From the former Soviet republics, Azerbaijan ranks fifth and produces 135.5 thousand tons of fruits, which is 3.4 %, while Uzbekistan produces 62.3 thousand tons. In addition, kaki persimmon is cultivated on a small scale in the Central Asian republics – Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and also on the Black Sea coast of Georgia. In the Russian subtropics, the total production of all subtropical crops (persimmon, feijoa, fig, pomegranate, kiwi, common jujube, etc.) averages 30 thousand tons. The main cultivars in almost all states are tannin-free cultivars – ‘Fuyu’ and ‘Djiro’, and from the constant cultivars – ‘Hachia’ and ‘Tanenashi’. The main pollinators are considered ‘Geili’ and ‘Akagaki’, in the CIS – ‘Zenji-Maru’. The paper indicates the nutritional value and taste qualities of some cultivars.